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Friday, 8 February 2013

Scudereia Vittoria return with Wakefield and Modell

Scuderia Vittoria return to Clios in 2013 with a new line up of Josh Wakefield and Devon Modell

Former
British GT Championship racer Josh Wakefield (Colchester) and motor
racing returnee Devon Modell (London) will make their respective
debuts in the Renault UK Clio Cup this year after finalising deals
with front-running squad Scuderia Vittoria.

Wakefield,
a multiple podium finisher in the GT4 Class of the 2011 British GT
Championship, makes the move back to front-wheel drive racing having
originally cut his teeth in the SaxMax series in 2009 where he was
the Rookie Champion.

Switching
to the Trofeo Abarth 500 category in 2010, ending the season fifth
overall with several podiums to his credit, the Essex driver then
embarked on a strong campaign in British GT where he was fourth
overall in GT4, teaming with Jake Rattenbury, taking one win and four
other podiums.

“Josh
has had a couple of testing years in different formulas, but has been
able to show that he possesses great pace”, said Scuderia Vittoria
team principal Danny Buxton, the 2001 Renault UK Clio Cup Champion,
“I’m really pleased to be able to bring him back to front-wheel
drive cars and I’m confident that he will be able to perform
extremely well in 2013.”

Modell,
who is a former Stars of Tomorrow [now Formula Kart Stars] Mini Max
Champion, makes a welcome return to active competition after several
years away from motorsport. The new Renault UK Clio Cup season will
be his first in cars, although he did previously test a Renault Clio
in 2011 with Scuderia Vittoria.

Originally
starting out in Super 1 National Cadet Championship karting in 2002,
the Kent-born racer progressed into Mini Max where he enjoyed a
superbly successful campaign in 2005 – winning the Stars of
Tomorrow title, finishing third in the Kartmasters Grand Prix and
runner-up in the Super 1 Mini Max category. Following graduation to
Rotax Max, Modell’s last appearance was four years ago.

Speaking
on the Londoner’s arrival into the all-action Dunlop MSA British
Touring Car Championship feeder series, Scuderia Vittoria’s Buxton
added: “Devon is a really exciting talent that held a huge
reputation in karting by beating the likes of Max Chilton [2013
Marussia Formula 1 Team driver] and Adrian Quaife-Hobbs [2012 AUTO GP
Champion] along the way.

“I
have been chasing Devon for the last two years, as he tested with us
at Snetterton previously and was immediately on the pace. He is a
very intelligent, calm and confident driver who possesses great pace,
and I am sure that he will surprise a lot of people in the TOCA
paddock in 2013.”

Scuderia
Vittoria, which fielded as many as five Renault Clios last season, is
expected to run an even larger squad this year with additional driver
announcements expected in due course. Following the official Media
Day at Silverstone in Northamptonshire on Thursday, 21st March, the
16-round season will get underway on 30th/31st March at Brands Hatch
Indy Circuit in Kent.